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Post by limburger59 on May 14, 2023 20:07:46 GMT -8
to post 3 May 24 To unlock 5 May 24 Turn in AAR's no later than 18 May 24 Next mission to post 17 May 24
MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 MISSION # 21TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant Bombing Altitude: 23,000 feet Map: FORMATION:HIGH | 80th SQDN |
| MID | 78th SQDN |
| LOW | 79th SQDN | LEAD: | The A Train |
| LEAD: | Bama Beauty
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| LEAD: | Irascible Girl
| TAIL: | Holey Moley |
| TAIL: | Orange Crate |
| TAIL: | Bowling Green Belle
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WEATHER:
Takeoff: Good Target: Good Landing: Good GAZETTEERZone | Modifier (QotS) | Weather/Resistance (TfT) | Fighter Cover | 2 Adriatic Sea | X | 100 % Clouds/None | Good | 3 Adriatic Sea | X | 100 % Clouds/None | Good | 4 Yugoslavia
| -2 | 50 % Clouds/Light | Good | 5 Yugoslavia | X | 100 % Clouds/None | Good | 6 Yugoslavia | X | 50 % Clouds/None | Good | 7 Yugoslavia | X | 50 % Clouds/None | Fair | 8 Hungary / Austria | -1 | 50 % Clouds/Moderate | Fair | TARGET ZONE 9 Austria FLAK: Outbound: Heavy x3 Inbound: Light x3 | -2 | 50 % Clouds/Light Target: Slightly Obscured TFT: Bombing Manually
| Fair | 8 Austria / Hungary | -1 | 50 % Clouds/Moderate | Fair | 7 Yugoslavia | X | 50 % Clouds/None | Fair | 6 Yugoslavia | X | 50 % Clouds/None | Fair | 5 Yugoslavia | X | 50 % Clouds/None
| Good | 4 Yugoslavia | 0 | 50 % Clouds/Heavy | Good | 3 Adriatic Sea | X | 50 % Clouds/None
| Good | 2 Adriatic Sea | X | 50 % Clouds/None
| Good |
Emergency Airfield: Shot Down: Over Water (if you didn't drown): Zones 2 to 3: you are rescued by the Royal Navy Over Land: Over Hungary or Austria = POW If you have to bailout over Yugoslavia roll 1d6 for each surviving Crew member. 1 Missing in Action (MIA) in the rugged snow covered mountains and never heard from again. 2-3 Captured by a German Patrol = POW. 4 Escaped aided by Partisans unless it is the Target Zone, then POW. 5-6 Escaped aided by Partisans. Escaped aided by Partisans: Two options: 1) Historical Option: When you return to Italy, your wounds will be treated, you will be debriefed and you will be sent back to the US. You know too much about the partisan locations, resources and operations. 2) Game Option: If you are really attached to a crewman, roll 2d6 and multiply that by the zone you are in. That is how many days it will take to get you back to the 509th. Calendar since Last Mission: 5 April 44 Mission 20 Ploesti, Romania - Marshalling Yard / Oil Storage 6 April 44 Non-Operational Day 7 April 44 Non-Operational Day 8 April 44 Bad Weather - Mission Scrubbed 9 April 44 Non-Operational Day - Easter Sunday 10 April 44 Bad Weather - Mission Scrubbed 11 April 44 Mission Aborted enroute to Wiener Neustadt, Austria (100% undercast = stress!) 12 April 44 Mission 21 Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant
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Post by crushedhat on May 1, 2024 19:41:13 GMT -8
Maj Harlan Beech, 509th S2 opens his briefing folder. “The Nazis are taking a beating,” he begins. “But they’re not out of the fight yet. If you don’t believe me, just ask the boys of the 5th Army. And it’s our job to help them. Of course, you’ll find out for yourself.”
Expect our first encounter to be once you’re over Yugoslavia. Somewhere near the line connecting Zadar and Knin.” SSgt Dew bury indicate he location on the big wall map behind the S2. Resistance isn’t expected to be heavy… going in, The S2 adds after a pause. Continuing, “Things should then quiet down until you enter Hungary, when you’ll likely be attacked by aircraft form bases in both Hungary and Austria. On the plus side, this means that many of them will on the ground rearming and refueling while you’re over the target. So, resistance should be lighter during the bomb run and immediately afterward.
“While the fighter cover over the target may be on the thin side, this site is important to the Nazi war machine and Flak will be heavy on target ingress. While lighter on egress, to conserve precious ammo, you can still expect the flak gunners to give you a rousing sendoff.”
“To add to the fun, by the time you’re back into Hungary those fighters that were rearming will be back up in the air. Additionally, you’ll find the Zadar-Knin line a much tougher nut to crack.”
“Your escort is the 52nd FG. They’re new to theater and new to the business of escorting bomber. But, they’ve got the new P-51s; which I’m told are the best fighter in the world.”
“What about the pilots?” someone shouts
“As I said, they’re new to this game.” Maj Beech answer before hurriedly moving on. “Metro is forecasting good weather for the entire mission profile.”
“There aren’t any emergency landing fields or neutral countries in close proximity. So, if you run into trouble, try to make it home. Or at least to Yugoslavia where you stand a chance of falling in with the Partisans…”
“Who are our Allies, not our friends,” several voices call out.
“Yes,” the S2 responds, hoping his face isn’t too obviously red. “If you make doit the Adriatic, the Royal Navy will be on Lifeguard duty. And as always, should you end up guests of Herr Goering…”
The room erupts into the by now familiar chant of, “Remember the Fighting Man’s Code and the Geneva Conventions.”
Maj Stockwell, the S3 takes over the podium. He takes a moment to glare at the assembled airmen, bringing some semblance of order back to the room. Satisfied, he begins, “Your route may seem straight forward. We’re hoping the Hun thinks so, and plans his defenses for further into Hungary. Then, at eh last minute you make a turn into Austria.” SSgt Dewbury taps the location on the map where the stringline bends Northwesterly.
“As The S2 said, the idea is that the Luftwaffe in the immediate area will be busy rearming while you’re raining havoc on the target. Also, while it wasn’t mentioned earlier, don’t be surprised to see some Hungarian fighters in the air.”
“This could prove to be tougher fight than it might at first seem. Especially given the unknown capabilities of the 52nd. But, as Maj Beech said, the P-51 is unmatched and it’s about time we got our share of them. Still, keep your withs about you, your position in formation, and remember your training. Do that, and I’ll be buying you a drink in the club tonight.”
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Post by crushedhat on May 1, 2024 19:41:39 GMT -8
For the 78th, for Mission 21 Lead: Bama Beauty (rheiss) Tail: Orange Crate (kageyone) Garfield, Paul, Cpt, USAAF, XO, 78th (H) Bomb Squadron (OOC - if assigned Lead or Tail, please submit your mission early in case someone else needs to take over those positions.)
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Post by wolverinetoddy on May 3, 2024 18:28:01 GMT -8
For the 79th Squadron
Lead: Irascible Girl Tail: Bowling Green Belle
Stay in formation, watch out for fighters, and hit the target!
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mpgutis
80th Bomber Squadron Commander
Posts: 316
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Post by mpgutis on May 5, 2024 4:49:00 GMT -8
80th Squadron
Lead: The A Train Tail: Holey Moley
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Post by superbee on May 5, 2024 4:56:56 GMT -8
B-17G Quincy Queen (3) 79th Squadron Formation: low sqdn Mission 21 Mission Date: 12 April 44 Target: Weiner-Neustadt, Austria (aircraft assembly plant) Post Mission Status: bombed target and landed at Gulia (heavily damaged and 3 casualties) Pilot: 1Lt Jim Norton
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| Credited Missions Flown
| AE destroyed
| decorations | status
| pilot
| 1Lt Jim Norton
| 3
| 0 | PH | fit
| co-pilot | 2Lt Curt Tobin
| 3
| 0 |
| fit
| bombardier | 2Lt Steve Morton
| 1
| 0
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| fir
| navigator
| 2Lt Dan Beam
| 3
| 2½
| PH
| fit
| flight engineer
| S/Sgt Elmer Dayton
| 3
| 2
| PH*
| LW
| radio operator
| S/Sgt Mitch Crew
| 3
| 0 |
| fit
| ball turret gunner
| Sgt Mickey Smith
| 3
| 1
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| fit
| port waist gunner
| Sgt Anton Ourada
| 3
| 0 | PH
| fit
| starboard waist gunner
| Sgt Bob Aiello
| 3
| 0 | PH*
| SW
| tail gunner
| Sgt Kermit Steen
| 3
| 0 |
| KIA
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Casualties: 3 • Sgt Kermit Steen (KIA) • Sgt Bob Aiello (SW – returns to duty after day recovery) • S/Sgt Elmer Dayton (LW – returns to duty next day) Bomb Run: 0% (forced to jettison bombs over target) EA encountered: 8
| encountered | intercepted by escorts
| destroyed | FCA | FBOA | FW 190's
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Me109's | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju88's | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me410's | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | totals | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Claims: • FW 190 (S/Sgt Elmer Dayton) Damage to B17G: 236 Peckham Pts (20 hits) B17G’s status: will require 5 days to repair (17 April 44) Award Recommendations: • Purple Heart: Sgt Kermit Steen (posthumous), Sgt Bob Aiello (2nd award), S/Sgt Elmer Dayton (2nd award) Mission Narrative: One week after the Ploesti mission and we are back in the air again - with a new bombardier – this time headed practically straight north towards the aircraft assembly plant at Weiner-Neustadt, Austria. Another long flight against what is likely to be a heavily defended target. The trip to the target is tense but virtually uneventful. Nearing the IP however, we find that the Germans are ready for us, as we are attacked by a flight of three FW 190’s. The FW’s dive in from six o’clock and overwhelm our gunnery defenses from that angle with heavy, accurate fire. ( The B17 suffers 13 hits from this firing pass.) Three of our gunners are wounded in this attack, with the tail gunner and a waist gunner no longer able to man their weapons. Fortunately, the FWs’ follow-up attacks are from different angles and are not as accurate. A bleeding S/Sgt Dayton manages to destroy one from his top turret. As his victim crazily cartwheels across the sky in flames, its two partners wisely dive away seeking easier prey. As we fight off the FW 190’s, I can see bursts of flak starting to appear over the target. Soon we arrive and the flak is dense enough – and close enough – to walk on. Shock waves from especially close explosions cause the bomber to buck and lurch, and shrapnel rains against (and punctures) its metal skin. ( 7 additional hits) Beginning the bomb run, #4 engine takes a direct hit. The engine begins to smoke as oil pressure drops immediately, so we shut her down and feather the prop. We need to quickly get rid of our bomb load. Lt. Morton calls out “Bombs away”. But my relief is short lived as within seconds he follows up with “Something’s wrong”. The bomb release mechanism has evidently suffered battle damage and does not work. “Get rid of them now!” I yell into the intercom, the order coming out much harsher than I had intended. I know I have to do a better job of controlling my emotions than that. After a brief consultation with S/Sgt Dayton, young Morton is able to use manual controls to release the bombs. Some poor bastard’s day is about to be ruined down below in Weiner-Neustadt, but I have no time to dwell on that. At least we will be able to keep up with the formation on the return flight. Everyone’s nerves are on edge as we begin the trip south to Gulia airfield. Bogies are sighted sporadically, but our fighter escorts do not allow them to get close to our formation. I move Lt. Morton to the back of the plane to assist the wounded gunners – I would rather have the experienced Lt Beam manning the chin turret anyway. The stoic S/Sgt Dayton assures me that he can treat his own wound without assistance. I set the B17 down without difficulty, and immediately go to the infirmary to check on the wounded crewman. Lt Morton has done a good job of tending to their injuries, but Sgt Steen dies on the operating table. Sgt Aiello’s wound turns out to be less serious than we thought; he and Dayton both will be awarded a second Purple Heart in as many missions. I think of what exactly to say to Steen’s parents in the letter that I will soon write. I consult with the ground crew to check on Quincey Queen’s status; she has taken a lot of damage in her first three missions. When I ask the crew chief when she will be able to fly again, he shakes his head and mutters, “Jesus, lieutenant …”. 1Lt Jim Norton Pilot – B17G Quincy Queen
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mpgutis
80th Bomber Squadron Commander
Posts: 316
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Post by mpgutis on May 5, 2024 6:05:52 GMT -8
Mission date: 12 April 44 Target: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant Mission/Bomber: 21/7 B-17G The A Train 80th Bombardment Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force Formation: High Squadron Position: Lead
Position: Name (Mission) (Kills) Awards Pilot: 1LT Dirk Ellington (7) (-) PH, AM Co-Pilot: 2LT Edward Reese (7) (-) AM Bombardier: 2LT Reed Williams (7) (2) DFC, AM Navigator: 2LT Mark Ventura (7) (1.0) PH, AM Engineer: SSG Stanley Ruzinski (7) (3.0) PH, AM Radio Operator: SGT Fred Conway (7) (0) AM Ball Gunner: SGT Malcolm Kovacs (7) (0.66) AM Port Waist Gun: SGT Randy Peterman (7) (0.5) AM, PH Starboard Waist Gun: SGT Vincent Meoli (7) (2.5) PHx3, AM Tail Gun: SGT Sheldon Thomas (7) (0.41) AM
Bombing: On target, 40%
Damage: 53 Peckham Points Starboard Inboard Engine out - 25 Navigator Heating system out - 10 Port Wing Root - 10 Superficial x8: Port Wing x2; Tail x1; Fuselage x3; Starboard Wing x1; Bomb Bay x1 - 8 Repair in two days
Casualties: None
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered / Destroyed / Credited Me-109: 9 / 0 / 0 FW-190: 8 / 2 / 0.5 Me-110: 2 / 0 / 0
Awards: None
Flown with TFT
When I saw that we were Squadron Lead again, I expected the major to be joining us, especially when his jeep pulled up to our hardstand. I immediately noticed that he was not in his flying gear. He just wanted to be sure we were ready for lead without him being in the aircraft. He wished us luck and off we went.
Takeoff and assembly were non-issues, aided by the fact that the weather was good.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.
Zone 3: Two waves of enemy hit us but the Little Friends took care of all of them.
Zones 4 - 7: Nothing to report.
Zone 8: Two Me-100s attacked at 3:00 Low and 6:00 Low and an Me-109 at 12:00 Level. The first of the 110s was taken care of by the fighters. The other was damaged, missed, and broke off. The 109 missed and broke off.
Zone 9 (Target): A pair of Me-109s off the nose were intercepted and proved to be no issue. Some rockets fired from somewhere flashed by but missed us. Flak was heavy and we took Superficial Hits to the Port Wing and Tail. Bombing conditions were good and the estimate is 40% in the box.
Zone 9 (Inbound): Flak moderated to light and missed us and no enemy fighters came at us.
Zones 8 - 5: Nothing to report.
Zone 4: The predicted heavy resistance was spot on. Two waves of enemy fighters attacked. The first was an Me-109 at 12:00 Level and three FW-190s at 12:00 High, 3:00 Level, and 3:00 High. The escort took care of the 190s off the nose and off the right wing. The 190 at 3:00 Level was damaged but got to Superficial Hits on the fuselage and walking hits to the wings. The Port Wing took a Superficial Hit and a Wing Root hit and the Starboard Wing took a Superficial Hit and he knocked out the inboard engine. It did not catch fire and we feathered it. He came around at 6:00 Level but our escort took care of him. The second wave was five FW-190s at 12:00 High, 10:30 Level, 9:00 Level, 6:00 High, and in a Vertical Dive, and an Me-109 at 12:00 Level. Escorts got the 190s off the nose and left wing. The one at 12:00 The one at 10:30 was claimed by the Top Turret and the one off the tail was claimed by the Tail Gun and Radio Operator. The Me-109 off the nose got Superficial Hits on the Bomb Bay and Fuselage and knocked out the Navigator's heat. He came around at 1:30 High but the escorts got to him.
Zone 3: With the engine and the navigator's heat out I dived down to 10,000 feet.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.
The landing was in clear weather and another one was in the books. Dirk Ellington, 1 LT Aircraft Commander
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Post by medic1 on May 5, 2024 6:28:11 GMT -8
B-17F INVADIN’ MAIDEN 5-BO-44-30823 Pilot: 1st Lt Franklin MarksSquadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H) 15th Air ForceLow Squadron: Middle Mission Date: 12 April 44 Mission Number: 021 Missions This Bomber: 21 Target: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant
Crew/Position/Rank | Current Mission | Previous Claims | This Mission | Stress Points | Status | Pilot 1st Lt Franklin Marks | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Ted Masini | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Craig Kellici | 12 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | RTD | Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Cassidy | 21 | 5 | 2 | 0 | RTD | Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado | 21 | 13.5 | 1 | 1 | RTD | R/O T/Sgt Bruce Woodside | 21 | 2 | .5 | 1 | RTD | Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro | 21 | 13 | .5 | 0 | RTD | PSW Sgt Noreno Costa | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | RTD | SWG Sgt Mark Riley | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | RTD | TG Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit | 21 | 9 | 1 | 1 | RTD |
Bomb Run: OffOn Target: 05%B-17 Damage: 14 Hits Superficial x 4 (4) Nose x 2 -superficial x 2 (2) Bomb Bay x 2 - superficial (1) -doors, superficial (1) Tail x 6 -superficial x 2 (2) - rudder x 2, inop (15) -MGs destroyed (20) -starboard tailplane root (25) Peckham Points: 70Repair Time: Overnight Maintenance Crew Chief: S/Sgt Steve Yates, (+2 modifier)Landing: Safe at GiuliaE/A Type | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted | Bf-109 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Bf-110 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C-202 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C-205 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fw-190 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | G-55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-410 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | IAR-80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re-2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TOTALS | 23 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
Confirmed Claims: 5 1st Lt Tom Cassidy 2 x Bf-109 S/Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 X Fw-190 S/Sgt Curt Mercado .5 x Fw-190, .5 x Bf-109 M/Sgt Ed Kostanaro .5 x .5 x Bf-109 M/Sgt Bruce Woodside .5 x Fw-190 Casualties: 0 Stress Points after mission: 1 1st Lt Tom Cassidy Award/ Promotions Requests: 2 Oak Leave Cluster to AM - Sgt Mark Riley Promotion review - Sgt Mark Riley Vw9WpR0U1-6
After Action Report (using QOTS and various optional rules)Zone 1: We had another beautiful day for the long mission before us. We took off without any incidents and formed up as the low squadron Zone 2-7: Nothing to report. Zone 8: Just over Hungry we encountered two waves of Goring’s Goons determined to end our mission here. Four 190 fanned out with one coming head on, another on our 6, and two one behind the other at 4:30. Kellici damaged the one at 12 high, the pilot snapping off a quick burst that went wide then passed us to attack other bombers. Talking Spirit successfully tracked the one at 6 level with his tracers impacting the wing and igniting its fuel tank that blew the wing off. Kostanaro damaged one at 4:30 low, while the one behind him put a harmless round in our tail. This fighter circled around and struck us another harmless round then made a third attack and again he only put one round into us. This fighter evaded all of our defensive fire and was apparently satisfied with his attacks and left.
The second wave of fighters rolled over and came down coming directly for us, but for some reason they pulled out of their dive and moved off, not attacking anyone. Zone 9: German fighters were waiting for us at the IP with the first wave containing four 109, one of them an ace. Cassidy scored a victory against one coming in at the left cheek, his MG raking the engine of the fighter causing oil to cover the canopy while spouting thick black smoke and forcing the pilot to bailout. Another 109 at 12 low put two into us for no effect and circled around again for a second attack, but he missed us and moved on. Another 109 managed to get another round into us and also failed to cause further damage on a second run.
The second wave we faced off against was a diving 190. The combined fire from our top turret and radio room whose spray fire caused the pilot to try to avoid the income hail of lead kept running into it instead, and both Mercado and Woodside shared the credit.
The flak was heavy but not as bad as we experienced around Ploesti. We took a minor hit in the tail which threw off Kellici’s aim and we missed the target, only a single bomb landed just inside the target area.
INBOUND
After we had turned and made our way for the rally point, the flak was much less severe and we sailed through it to the waiting fighters. Three waves of Goring’s Goons lined up to try their luck in taking us down. The first wave we saw we saw three 109. Finally, an escort showed up to chase off one coming in on our tail. Cassidy again peppered another with a cheek MG, damaging the engine and blowing the prop off. The pilot did not get out. Costa knock one down off the port waste (denied at interrogation) while it returned fire before going down and rendered the rudder inoperable.
The second wave was a 190 high above us that dropped a bomb that narrowly missed the starboard wing before moving away.
A third wave had two aces coming in from 10:30 low and 12 high. Two other 109s on our tail were both chased off by P-51s who finally decided to make their presence felt. The ace at 12 high hit us in the nose and came back at 4:30. However we had aces of our own and Mercado and Kostanero’s combined withering fire of four 50 calibers mangled a wing and caused it to snap off, and Germany lost another ace as it corkscrewed towards the Earth miles below. The other fighter failed to hit us and we failed in return. Zone 8-5: Nothing to report. Zone 4: As if to remind that one had to say constantly vigilant even during the most boring parts of a long mission, two waves of fighters appeared.
The first had three 410s at 3 low, 12 low, and 6 level. The fighter on our tail was run over by a mustang and Kostanaro damaged one of the two remaining fighters at three low. However, the 12 low, an obvious green pilot managed to hit us twice and then made the mistake of coming back at 12 low where he was shot down by Costa, who would find out in interrogation that again his claim was to be denied.
A second wave of three 109 with an ace and another rookie came in at 9 low and high respectively, with the third at 7:30 low. A P-51 came in and tangled with the ace and Kostanaro again would be disappointed by interrogation when they denied his third of the day. The 3:00 fighter hit us in the airframe and came back again at three high where he was damaged by Mercado. Not to be denied the pilot concentrated his fire into our tail, rendering Talking Spirit’s machine guns useless and hitting the starboard tail plane root. The fighter came back at 6 level but failed to add to his damage and we want our separate ways. Zone 3-2: Nothing to report. Zone 1: The airfield was a welcome sight. It had been a long mission and we’ve taken our licks and most surprisingly our damage wasn’t as severe as it could have been given the gauntlet of flak and fighters encountered. When it came for our turn to land our out of commission rudder didn’t cause much of a problem and we taxied safely to our hard stand.
It was a disappointing mission to go all that way and not hit the target, so we had to contend ourselves with the knowledge that we had down 5 fighters, possibly more, as well as damaged a few more.
S/Sgt Yates and his ground crew will have to put in some long hours tonight to ensure that Invadin’ Maiden will be ready for the next mission.
1st Lt Franklin Marks, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS, 509th BG (Heavy), 15th AF1-6
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on May 5, 2024 6:30:04 GMT -8
B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #18) 509th BG, 15AF MISSION # 21 Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly PlantMISSION DATE: 12 April 44 Crew Commander: 1LT George McQuinn Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: Middle Position: Lead TARGET: Marshalling Yard / Oil Storage Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Prior Kills Awarded | Status | Pilot | 1LT | George McQuinn | 20 | AM++ |
| RFD | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | Howard Mills | 16 | AM++ |
| RFD | Bombardier
| 2LT | Johnny Marcum | 20 | AM++ | .25 | RFD
| Navigator | 2LT | Pat Tobin | 20 | AM++ | .25 | RFD
| Engineer | S/SGT | Sam Harshaney | 17 | AM++, PH | 7.16 | RFD | Radio/ RW | S/SGT | Chet Laabs
| 1 |
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| RFD | Ball Gunner | SGT | Bill Trotter | 20 | AM++, PH | 3.28 | RFD
| Left Waist | SGT | Harry Kimberlin | 20 | AM++ | 2 | RFD
| Nose Gunner | SGT | Tommy Thompson | 15 | AM+ | 6.08 | RFD
| Tail Gunner | SGT | Dave Short | 20 | AM++ | 1.31 | RFD
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Crew Chief T/SGT Bob Patrick (The Dedicated) skill +2 20th mission Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures. Bomb Percentage: On-target, 40% Bomber Disposition: ready after routine overnight maintenance Bomber Damage: none Peckham Points: NA Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 6
| Me109 | Fw190 | Me110 | Me210 | Me410
| Ju88C-6 | TOTAL | Escort Intercept | 1 | 2 | | | | | 3 | Undamaged | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Damaged
| 1 |
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| 1 | Probable/Denied
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| Destroyed | 1 |
| | | | | 1 |
Casualties: Claims: S/SGT Harshaney & SGT Thompson Me109 approved Awards: Air Medals (Oak leaf cluster) to 1LT McQuinn, 2LT Marcum, 2LT Tobin, SGT Trotter, SGT Kimberlin SGT Thompson SGT Short Promotions To 1LT Johnny Marcum & Pat Tobin To S/SGT Bill Trotter, Harry Kimberlin, Dave Short & Tommy Thompson
AAR With a week since the last mission there has been time for T/SGT Whitehead’s replacement S/SGT Chet Laabs to get settled in and accustomed to his role. S/SGT Harshaney has picked up the senior NCO duties and is doing well. After the mission we had some promotions to celebrate Johnny and Pat to 1LT, and Bill, Harry, Dave & Tommy to S/SGT
OUTBOUND We were assigned lead for this mission and with the good weather we had an easy takeoff and we able to quickly meet up with the assembly ship as the rest of the group filled into formation. As forecast we encountered enemy resistance as we entered Yugoslavian air space. A pair of Fw190’s at our 12 were intercepted by the boys from the 52ndFG. A Me109 snuck in right behind them, and we and the Me109 were pas each other before anyone could hit anything. The rest of the flight to the target area was uneventful.
TARGET AREA Once in the target area, there was no fighter activity near us and while there was heavy flak on the run from the IP to the target it wasn’t close to us. Johnny was on-target assessed as 40% coverage. As bomb release the flak lessened somewhat and continued to be off set from us. As the format reformed at the RP it seemed to be a little loose, but no enemy fighters were near us.
INBOUND AS we started back, a trio of Me109s tried their luck. Our little friends took care of one of them. Sam and Tommy added to their kill count taking the right wing off one at our 12. Bill damaged the tail of the one at out 9 doing enough damage that it missed and broke off the attack. After that we had an uneventful flight back to base with a safe landing. T/SGT Patrick says the Bama Beauty will be ready after routine overnight maintenance.
1LT George McQuinn, Pilot Commanding B-24J Bama Beauty 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
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Post by Keltos on May 5, 2024 14:12:43 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-17F-100BO 42-30399 – “Irascible Girl”79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. H. Simmons Mission Date: 12 April 1944 Mission Number: 21 Mission of this bomber: 21 Formation: Low Position: Lead Target: Wiener Neustadt, Austria Target Type: Aircraft Assembly Plant Bomb Run: On Target - 40% Lady Luck Smile #: 0;CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | Cpt Lt. Henry Simmons | 21 | 0 | 0 | AM+++ / PH | SW-IH | 1 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt.Jason Ponder
| 5 | 0 | 0 | AM / PH+ | LW | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. Sean Nelson
| 5 | 0 | 0 | AM
| RTD | 0 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Dennis "Guppy" Sutton | 6 | 0 | 0 | AM / PH | SW-IH | 1 | Engineer | M/Sgt Tim Burkey | 21 | 2 | 13 | AM+++ / DFC | RTD | 0 | Radio Op. | S/Sgt Clinton "Volt" Watts | 7 | 0 | 0 | AM | RTD | 0 | Ball Gunner | S/Sgt Matthew Whalen
| 21 | .5 | 8.99 | AM+++ / DFC / PH | RTD | 0 | Port WG | S/Sgt George Buck
| 21 | 0 | 2.5 | AM+++ | RTD | 0 | Starboard WG | S/Sgt Harvey McGinty
| 21 | .5 | 1.83 | AM+++ / PH | RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | S/Sgt Mark Withley
| 15 | 1 | 1 | AM++ / PH | RTD | 1 |
Crew Chief: T/Sgt Richard Weiner (the Dedicated) - 21 missions;
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Me-109 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | Me-110 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Me-210 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 |
Claims:
- S/Sgt Harvey McGinty: 1 Me-109 claimed - half credit awarded - M/Sgt Tim Burkey: 1 Me-109 claimed - no credit awarded - M/Sgt Tim Burkey: 1 Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded - 2nd Lt Sean Nelson: 1 Me-210 claimed - no credit awarded - M/Sgt Tim Burkey: 1 Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded - S/Sgt Mark Withley: 1 Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded - S/Sgt Matthew Whalen: 1 Me-109 claimed - half credit awarded Damage:
- Superficial x3: 3 - SW x2: 10 - LW x1: 2 Peckham Points: 15pts - overnight repairing and maintenance. Casualties:
- Cpt Henry Simmons: skull grazed and inflamed brain - Invalidated home after 4 weeks in hospital. - 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder: thigh cut - RTD - 2nd Lt. Dennis Sutton: broken fibula - 16 weeks in hospital after surgery - Invalidated home Awards:
AM 2nd OLC: S/Sgt Mark Withley AM: 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder, 2nd Lt Sean Nelson. Purple Heart: Cpt Henry Simmons, 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder, 2nd Lt Dennis Sutton. Promotions:-- AAR (flown with TFT)Giulia Airbase: Great weather for safe take-off and perfect assembly. Zone 2-3 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Outbound: A flock of 4 Me-109s attacked us: two were driven away by the escort fighters while one after being damaged preferred to move away, the last one was not so lucky and was shot down. Zone 5-7 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 8 Outbound: We were attacked by a Me-109 and a couple of Me-210, we managed to shoot down the Me-109 and one of the two Me-210s, while the other was attacked by the escort. Zone 9 Outbound/Inbound Target Zone: The Jerrys didn't seem to be interested. The Flak, as we were told, was very heavy but despite nearby explosions and strong jolts we did not receive any damage, managing to carry out a good bomb drop. Light Flak with no damage after bomb drop. We were attacked by 2 Me-110s and 1 Me-109s. We damaged two of them who escaped while the third was intercepted by the escort. A second wave of 3 Me-109s attacked us from the front and rear: 2 were shot down by our gunners while the third engaged in a dogfight with the escort. The last wave consisted of an Fw-190, which quickly dived after being damaged on the right wing, and a Me-109 which was taken over by the 52FG boys. Zone 8-5 Inbound: Nothing to report Zone 4 Inbound: We were attacked by 3 Fw-190s and 1 Me-109. They were all intercepted by the escort except for one Fw-190 which, although heavily damaged, managed to get close and fired a volley that hit the pilot compartment and the nose compartment: wounding the pilot, co-pilot and navigator. A second wave consisting of 3 Me-109s and 1 Fw-190 attacked us after a few minutes and while two were intercepted and removed by the escort, the other two were one damaged and one shot down. Zone 3-2 Inbound: Pilot and Navigator were moved in Radio Room, while Engineer Burkey took the seat near 2nd Lt Ponder. Giulia Airbase: We managed to land without any problems. Unfortunately for us the end of the mission was not happy when the doctors told us that for Cpt Simmons and 2nd Lt Sutton the situation was serious and even if they survived the surgeries, their war ended here. Cpt Simmons was loaded into the ambulance without regaining consciousness. -------------------------------------------------
Jason Ponder, 2nd Lt, USAAF, Commanding B-17F: Irascible Girl B-17F-100BO 42-30399 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
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Post by kageyone on May 5, 2024 22:39:49 GMT -8
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GaryK
79th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 236
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Post by GaryK on May 6, 2024 4:11:39 GMT -8
After Action report: (using TfT) (Optional rules: Crew-chief effects; Crew Stress; Jasta 6 German Pilot Quality; Peckham’s Random Event Variant Table; Axis Aircraft 1942-45).
Another relatively long trip this time, but to a much less well-defended target – thankfully! Good to get going again after yesterday’s false start.
Mission: Very quiet until our brief visit to Hungarian airspace, where a couple of waves of 190s homed in on us. With a much heavier escort coverage than last week, we were left with only three bogies – one ahead and above us, one behind and level, and the third level with us in our 130 position. Magic caused the engine of the one at twelve o’clock high to start smoking, and Walcott shot bits off the right wing of the one at 1:30. Cheers from the tail greeted Haley’s elimination of the one hoping for an easy shot.
The two remaining 190s took their shots, missed, then headed off back to their base.
There was less opposition in the target zone, but we did get another three FWs decide to attack us. The escorts engaged the one coming in off our right side, but the two dead ahead – one high, one level – came in on us at a frightening velocity. Magic again missed the one above us, but Walcott was Mr. Consistent today, shooting up the right wing of the one level with us.
One of the two hit us, and there were yells from the nose area. A few seconds later, Walcott came on the com: “Jeeeezzz! My shoulder’s broken, guys. Hurts like hell! I’m not going to be able to operate the bombsight. Mack – you need to take over.”
With the guys in the nose sorting things out themselves, I left them to it, but asked Southey to head down briefly to see if he could help Walcott in any way. He returned about five minutes later and gave me a thumbs-up as he went past, helping Walcott to the radio room.
While the storm of flak was rocking the plane, none got close enough to hit us, and Mack did a great job on the bombsight, managing to put a fair percentage of our bombs on target.
We turned away from the target into a lighter flak storm, but no enemy fighters bothered us as we completed the turn for home.
Things quietened down again until we closed on the Yugoslavian coast, when two groups of fighters jumped us. The total of five quickly became 2, thanks to the attention of our little friends!
Initially, we were left with one Me109 dead ahead of us. Mack wasn’t able to manage the chin turret, due to having little experience with it, and the Jerry put a couple of shots into us, not damaging anything vital. As the bandit moved into a level position off our left side, both Mack and Crawford took some bits off him, resulting in another miss and a departure for home.
That 109 was replaced by another, this time below and behind us. Before the pilot had even lined up an attack, Haley had put a blizzard of lead into his cockpit area, and the plane fell away totally out of control.
The trip back to Giulia went without further trouble. Southey had given Walcott a morphine shot to ease the pain of his shoulder, so he was fine when the medics picked him up and whisked him away after an uneventful landing.
A decent trip, with Walcott suffering a bit, but it could have been a lot worse. He’s going to be hors-de-combat for a couple of weeks, but it looks like he’ll be back with us before Middleton hobbles back.
Every trip now, I’m just waiting for something to happen, but the whole crew are gaining experience, and we are coping with the unexpected pretty well. Let’s see what our next sortie’s surprises are!
1Lt Louis M. Marlowe, Pilot Commanding B-17G-55DL-44-6507 "Lucky Patch" 9th (H) BS, 509th (H) BGFor a full mission history of "In Like Flynn", "Blitz Buggy", plus my three aircraft in the previous war, please see my (GarySK) post in the Tarmac forum
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tomt1999
80 Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 142
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Post by tomt1999 on May 7, 2024 16:13:22 GMT -8
MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 MISSION # 21 TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant Bombing Altitude: 23,000 feet
80th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
"Holey Moley" CREW Captain FRANK DELOZIER - Pilot 2nd Lt PERCY "Purse" JOHNSON - Co-Pilot 1st Lt RICHARD "Woody" WOOD - Bombardier 1st Lt HAMPTON "Hamp" RAWLINGS - Navigator T/Sgt SAMUEL "Sammy B" BATEMAN - Engineer S/Sgt JOSE "Loco" AZZUCO - Radio Op Sgt EMILIO "Emmy" CANTOLO - Ball Gunner ACE Sgt HAL CARTER - Port Waist S/Sgt HERBERT "H.R." RAYMOND - Starb Waist Sgt CHARLES "Eddy" EDWARDS III - Tail Gunner
BOMBING ON TARGET 60%
CLAIMS none CASUALTIES none PROMOTIONS none
DAMAGE TOTAL: 50; ready tomorrow
- tail oxygen out 10
- tail oxygen fire 1x extinguisher used 25
- superficial x5 5
- pilot comp oxygen out 10
ENEMY AC type num d/o dam dest Ju88 1 0 0 0
AAR
Smooth sailing until we hit the flak at the target. A hot fragment severed the tail's oxygen connection causing a fire. Sgt Edwards put it out with an extinguisher. He then moved to the radio room to get a walk-around oxygen bottle, which he ended up not needing.
Then, a veteran Ju88 crew made three passes at us, resulting in six hits. Luckily, most were superficial, but one shell came through the pilot compart- ment on the port side, just under my arm, and continued through the instrument cluster, knocking out oxygen to the entire ship. We shook ourselves clear of the 88 and descended to Angels 10.
Nearer to base over Yugoslavia, we took two salvos of bombs dropped on us from above. Sgt Raymond, the starboard gunner, swears he heard them whistle by his gun port. They did no damage.
Special note of excellence for crew chief T/SGT Bateman. "Sammy B" has four kills, but also wields a mean wrench. We had no technical issues the entire mission other than the ones the Jerries caused. DELOZIER
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Post by kageyone on May 7, 2024 20:44:26 GMT -8
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Post by limburger59 on May 8, 2024 11:48:57 GMT -8
B-24D: KNOCKOUT Spare assigned to the 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Middle Squadron - Middle MISSION DATE: 12 APR 44 MISSION #: 21 TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Everet Galloway (4) Co-Pilot: 2LT Andrew Doherty (4) Navigator: 2LT Forrest "Candy Man" Sweet (4) LW Bombardier: 2LT Vernon Gray (5) LW Engineer/TT: S/SGT Irvin "Field" Marshall (9) [5.25] AM / DFC Radio Op: S/SGT John Gallows (5) Ball Turret: SGT Jim "Jimmy" Schwartz (3) Right Waist: SGT Amir "Charlie" Sexton (6) AM KIA Left Waist: SGT Gerald "Jerry" Rodgers (3) 1x 109 destroyed Tail Gunner: SGT James "The Kid" Mays (2)
Bomb Run: On Target 50%
Casualties: 2LT Forrest Sweet – LW, torn flexor - RTD 26 APR 44 2LT Vernon Gray - LW, torn achilles tendon - RTD 10 MAY 44 SGT Amir Sexton - KIA, too gruesome to describe
B-24 Damage: Superficial x1 (2) Light Wound x2 (4) KIA Wound (10) Radio destroyed (10) Mechanical Failure – Fuel Transfer Pump (10)
Peckham Points: 36
Disposition: Safe at Giulia
Attackers: 5 5x Bf-109: 1 Destroyed (confirmed), 1 Probable, 1 Damaged, 3 Driven Off
Awards: Purple Heart: 2LT Forrest Sweet, 2LT Vernon Gray Purple Heart (posthumous): SGT Amir Sexton Air Medal for 5 Completed Missions: 2LT Vernon Gray, S/SGT John Gallows
AFTER ACTION REPORT : QOTS Variant for B-24
Spare crew assigned to a Spare Bomber
Any bandits encountered on the outbound leg were driven off and reported by other bombers.
Flak sprayed the Nose with shell fragments, wounding both the Navigator and Bombardier, but didn't prevent 2LT Gray from placing 50% of our bombs in the factory complex. While rallying, a 109 looked like he was pointed straight at us until a little friend intervened.
Four 109s converged on Knockout in Zone 8, with three getting past our escort. Our gunners hit two bandits, destroying one; but the 109 who was not damaged killed our Starboard Waist Gunner in return.
In Zone 4 our Fuel Transfer Pump failed, and attempts at manual transfers were unsuccessful. Fortunately we were close enough to home to get on the ground before any of our engines starved.
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ChefEd
78th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 471
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Post by ChefEd on May 8, 2024 13:18:51 GMT -8
B-24J Next Objective B-24J-15-CF-42-99776 Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Squadron Position: Middle Aircraft Position: Middle Mission Date: 12 APR 1944 Mission Number: 21 This Aircraft: 10 Target: Weiner-Neustadt, Germany, Aircraft Plant CrewPosition | Rank / Name | Missions | Kills | Awards | Status | Stress | Pilot | 1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt | 9 | 0 | AM, PH | RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt Arlo Perot | 9 | 0 | AM, PH | RTD | 1 | Navigator / NT | 2nd Lt Callahan Quinn | 5 | 1 | PH | RTD | 2 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt Benjamin Galardi | 7 | 0 | AM, PH | RTD | 0 | Engineer | T/Sgt Abraham Leeker | 9 | 1.83 | AM | RTD | 1 | Radio Op | T/Sgt Bruce Woodward | 9 | 1.5 | AM | RTD | 0 | Rt Waist | Sgt Walter "Wally" Heath | 7 | 0.5 | AM, PH | RTD | 0 | Ball Turret | T/3rd Tristen Townsend | 9 | 2 | AM, PH | RTD | 1 | Left Waist | Sgt Brendan Burgess | 9 | 0.5 | AM | RTD | 1 | Tail Gunner | T/3rd Finnley Griffith | 9 | 1.5 | AM | RTD | 1 | | | | | | | | Crew Chief | S/Sgt King Solis | 17 | | | Skill +0 | |
Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %Casualties: Pilot – Light Wound, Torn oblique, RTD 19 APR 44 Co-Pilot – Light Wound, Facial laceration, RTD 13 APR 44 Right Waist - Light wound, Abdominal laceration - RTD 13 APR 44 Damage: Right Tail Plane Hit X1 25 LW Gun Out 10 Superficial X6 12 Light Wound X2 4 Peckham Points: 51 Peckham Points, One (1) Day(s) to repair Landing: Safe Enemy AircraftType | Encountered | Driven Off | Damaged | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Me-109 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Fw-190 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-210(H) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ClaimsPosition | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Navigator | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Top | 1 | 0 | 0 | Tail | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Awards: Purple HeartPilot – Torn right oblique – 1 Week Co-Pilot – Facial laceration– 1 Day Right Waist – Abdominal laceration – 1 Day Promotions: None AFTER ACTION REPORTFlying into Austria today. Not too bad, considering it is over enemy territory almost the whole way and back. Collective fingers crossed that the enemy resistance is as predicted. We encountered our first enemy fighter as we crossed the Yugoslavian coast, a solitary Ju-88, which was driven off by our escorts. We saw no other enemy fighters until over Hungary, an FW and a Hungarian 210, both driven off by escorts. So far, so good. With the IP imminent, we expected to encounter more enemy resistance. None appeared. Flak was heavy, as expected, hitting us twice. The first was barely a scratch, the second hit damaged the starboard tail plane. T3 Griffith noted the impact, but said the tail felt as stable as usual. Lt Galardi maintained enough composure, with the black puffs of flak buffeting the airplane to drop 30% on target. On target egress we encountered our heaviest enemy resistance of the mission. All told, we faced five Bf-109s and three Fw-190s. Our rookie escorts were able to only drive off one of the pesky 109s. Of the remaining six enemy aircraft, we shot down three, with total credit for 1. We managed to tag all of the remaining six enemy aircraft, to one degree or another. Besides the one 109 driven off, we shot down one of the remaining 109s and damaged the third of the first trio of bandits, taking no damage. The next two 109s were summarily shot down. The three 190s of the last wave gave us the most trouble. We clipped all of them, with two getting through and hitting us. It was quite a shock when Lt Perot and I each noticed the other’s wound. Seems adrenaline tends to numb the sense. On the next pass of the two 190s we clipped them again, but not enough to put them down. We took a few more superficial hits. Once clear of the enemy, I called or a damage report. Besides Lt Perot and I, Sgt Heath, right waist, took a hit, a scratch to the stomach. The plane was aerated in a few places, but no vital parts were hit, save the left waist .50 was put out of action. We each had our wounds treated, as best we could, as we headed home. It was on the return leg when the Gremlins hit. T3 Griffith reported the tail turret power out, about 30 minutes before we would hit the coast. He could not repair it. Over the Adriatic we lost the intercom. Better then than on the outward leg. We had been told to expect heavy enemy activity when we were to re-cross the Yugoslav coast. We saw plenty of enemy fighters, but none approached us. Despite three of us wounded, we waited our turn in the normal rotation to land. Lt Perot, Sgt Heath, and I headed over to the hospital for a once over. We all got our sutures. I will be off flight status for a week. Submitted by, 1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot B-24J Next Objective 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF
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daveh
80th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 5
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Post by daveh on May 8, 2024 16:21:28 GMT -8
B-17 Wild Child/ 80th Bombardment Squadron/509th Bombardment Group/15th Air Force Date: 12 April 1944 Mission: Wiener Neustadt, Austria Formation: High
Crew: Pilot-1Lt Michael Smyser Co-Pilot- 2Lt JT Thomas Navigator-2Lt Chase Lester Bombardier- 2Lt Brian Borden Engineer-S/Sgt Alex Timmerman Radioman-S/Sgt Tyler Albright Ball Turret Gunner-Sgt Lucas Hardwick Port Waist Gunner-S/Sgt Robert Killion Starboard Waist Gunner-S/Sgt Jay Blanchard Tail Gunner-Sgt David Hodo
Damage: #2 Engine destroyed, #4 hit (superficial), other minor hits-Total 64 Points Bombing Accuracy: on target-40% Enemy Aircraft shot down--3, Brian Borden Me110, Alex Timmerman Me110, David Hodo Me110
Debriefing Takeoff went well, we formed up and flew without incident to the target area-I know you guys said our escort was new to bomber escort, but those guys kept the enemy fighters off our backs. As we neared the target area a single Me110 made it through the fighter screen and came in at us at 6 o'clock low. Brian was on him, and he saw the wing get torn off the fighter and saw no chutes, our first kill of the day-somehow the flak missed us, and Brian dropped those eggs on target, making our turn home, the flak got heavy but again we needled our way through it without a scratch. on our turn around, an Me109 came at us at 6 o'clock level and shout up our wings taking out the #2 engine (it was shredded) and hitting the #4 as well, the cowling looked like Swiss cheese, but otherwise it operated normally. An Me210 also came at us at 1200 o'clock high did no damage and was driven off by the tail gunner. The 109 came back and again came in at 6 o'clock level-this time he was driven off, but not before he put several holes in the fuselage. With one engine out, we were getting concerned-but had very little time because 2 Me110s came at us-one at 6 o'clock level our tail gunner got him and its tail was shot off and spun ooc with no chute spotted, The top turret had had a power malfunction but Alex got it working just in time as another 110 came at us a 1200 o'clock level-Timmerman had a good lead on it, shredded off its wing and down it went. Hodo claims he took out the Me109 as well, but I can't confirm it so he will only get credit for the Me110. Landing was routine. I talked with the crew chief-The aircraft will need a new engine and I asked him to double check the electrical issue with the top turret-but it should be ready to fly by morning.
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on May 8, 2024 16:31:08 GMT -8
B-17F All In (Mission #21) 509th BG, 15AF MISSION # 21 Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 Crew Commander: CPT George Gill Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: High Position: Lead TARGET: Marshalling Yard / Oil Storage Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Kills Awarded | Status | Pilot | CPT | George Gill | 21 | AM++, PH |
| RFD | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | Don Heffner | 10 | AM |
| RFD | Bombardier
| 2LT | Billy Sullivan | 7 | AM |
| RFD | Navigator | 2LT | Jake Wade | 1 |
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| LW-1wk | Engineer | S/SGT | Edward "Judge" Justice | 7 | AM, PH | 1.83 | C | Radio Operator | S/SGT | Zander "Ham" Berger | 7 | AM
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| RFD | Ball Gunner | SGT | SGT Russ Van Atta | 21 | AM++
| .5 | RFD
| Left Waist | SGT | Julius “Moose” Solters | 21 | AM++
| .5 | RFD
| Right Waist | SGT | Mel Almada | 1 |
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| SW-IH
| Tail Gunner | SGT | Ewald "Ernie" Pyle | 8 | AM |
| RFD
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Crew Chief T/SGT Fred Johnson (the Mechanic) 21th mission skill 3 Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: No Mechanical Failure rolls during this mission. Bomb Percentage: on-target, 20%Bomber Disposition: T/SGT Johnson reports the All In will be ready in two days Bomber Damage: Superficial damage 5x 5 2LT Jake Wade LW 2 SGT Mel Almada SW 5 Top Turret guns inoperable 30 Right cheek gun inoperable 10 Intercom out 10 Radio No Mayday 10 Radio Room- no effect 5 Bomb Bay door no effect , 5 Tail – no effect 5 Left wing- no effect 5 Right elevator inoperable 10 Peckham Points: 102 Landing: safe landing at Giulia Airfield Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 15 | Me109 | Me110 | Fw190 | Ju-88C | Me210 | G55; | TOTAL | Escort Intercept | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | 7 | Undamaged | 1
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| 1 | | | | 2 | Damaged | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | | | 3 | Probable/Denied
| 1 | | | | | | 1 | Destroyed | 1 | 1 |
| | | | 2 |
Casualties: SGT Mel Almada shattered tarsal bones invalided Home. 2LT Jake Wade broken nose, face cut RTD in 1 week Claims: SGT Pyle Me109 approved SGT Pyle Me110 approved S/SGT Russ Van Atta Me109 denied Awards: Air Medal 2LT Don Heffner Purple Heart 2LT Jake Wade Purple Heart SGT Mel Almada AAR With the bad weather scrubbing a couple of missions we had some time to get our two new crew members and are to spare crew members settled into their duties and the crew routine. Sgt. Justice had served as a spare crew member with us earlier so he could help getting the other three new people settled in. OUTBOUND with the good weather we were able to take off and join up with the formation without any problems. The boys from the 52nd fighter group showed up on time and is forecast the Krauts showed up as we started into Yugoslavian airspace. Our little friends took care of a FW 190 the try to attack that are 12 but were unable to stop another one coming in in a vertical dive. It is a couple times causing superficial damage and breaking our navigator’s nose and cutting his face. A lot of blood but nothing serious. After that it was a quiet flight until we were approaching the target area. Then we are met by a pair of JU-88s. I little friends took care of one of them. Judge and Russ did enough damage to the one at our three that it missed and broke off the attack. TARGET AREA Once in the target area, our escorts ran off another JU-88. And as we made our bomb run there was heavy flak in the vicinity but none near us. Billy was on target but assessed as a disappointing 20% coverage. After bomb run the flight dropped in intensity and continued to be ineffective. Our escorts took care of an Me109 that was nosing around. INBOUND The flight back use uneventful until we approached the Zadar-Knin line, then we were swarmed. First, our little friends picked off a Me109, it was quickly followed by 4 more of them. The boys from the 52th took care of one of them. The second at our 12 was missed by Billy manning the nose gun. It missed us but Ernie recorded his first kill getting it with a passing shot. The other two hammered us. Russ and Moose damaged the one at our 9 but it it scored multiple hits on us most for ne effect but also taking out t=our right rudder. When it tried a reattack at our 3 Russ hit it again taking a wing off as its’ final shots missed us. We didn’t get a hit on the one at our 9 and it scored multiple hits, taking out the Top Turret and Right Waist guns, Shattering Mel’s ankle, knocking out the intercom, and four hits that have no effect. It came back around also at our 3 their was on one to engage it and the Kraut took out our main radio. On its’ final pass at our it missed despite our guns that could engage being out of action. The final attack was by 3 Me110s. Our escorts took care of one. Ernie got his second kill taking care of the one at our 6, with a chute observed. Billy managed to hit the one at our 12 doing enough damage that it missed and broke off the attack. After that the rest of the flight was uneventful with a safe landing at Giulia Airfield. Jake will need a week before he can fly. Mel is going home after one mission to recover. While he most likely will be able to walk without a cane he he has played his last baseball game. T/SGT Johnson reports that it will take two days to complete repairs on the All In. CPT George Gill, Pilot Commanding B-17F All In 79th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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ChefEd
78th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 471
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Post by ChefEd on May 8, 2024 16:51:48 GMT -8
B-17G Sunny Side Up B-17G-20BO-42-31473 Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Squadron Position: High Aircraft Position: Middle Mission Date: 12 APR 1944 Mission Number: 21 This Aircraft: 5 Target: Weiner-Neustadt, Germany, Aircraft Plant CrewPosition | Rank / Name | Mission | Kills | Awards | Status | Stress | Pilot | 2nd Lt Mylo Boyle | 5 | 0 | AM | RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt Jaiden Frye | 5 | 0 | AM | RTD | 1 | Navigator / NT | 2nd Lt Abdullah Kane | 5 | 2.5 | AM | RTD | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt Enrique Hyde | 5 | 0.83 | AM | RTD | 1 | Engineer | S/Sgt Magnus Matthews | 5 | 1 | AM | RTD | 0 | Radio Op / Rt Waist | T/Sgt Gael Deadmon | 5 | 0 | AM | RTD | 0 | NT / Rt Waist | T/3rd Blake Stanton | 5 | 1 | AM | RTD | 0 | Ball Turret | T/3rd Nigel Harrell | 5 | 2 | AM | RTD | 0 | Left Waist / NT | T/4th Erik Templeton | 5 | 0.5 | AM | RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | T/3rd Miles Rowland | 5 | 2.5 | AM | RTD | 0 | | | | | | | | Crew Chief | S/Sgt Josia Stanton | 17 | | | Skill +0 | |
Bomb Run: On Target, 50 %Casualties: None Damage: Left Waist Heat Out 10 Superficial X1 1 Twin Turret Guns Jammed X1 20 Single Gun Jammed X1 10 Peckham Points: 41, One ( 1 ) day(s) to repair Landing: Safe Enemy Aircraft:Type | Encountered | Driven Off | Damaged | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Me-109 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.33 | 0 | Me-110 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Fw-190 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Ju-88 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Claims:Position | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Tail | 2 | 2 | 0 | Bombardier | 2 | 0.83 | 0 | Navigator | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Awards: Air MedalPilot, 2nd Lt Mylo Boyle Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Jaiden Frye Navigator, 2nd Lt Abdullah Kane Bombardier, 2nd Lt Enrique Hyde Engineer, S/Sgt Magnus Matthews Radio Op, T/Sgt Gael Deadmon Right Waist, T/3rd Blake Stanton Ball Turret, T/3rd Nigel Harrell Left Waist, T/4th Erik Templeton Tail Gunner, T/3rd Miles Rowland Promotions: None AFTER ACTION REPORTThe flight was uneventful until we hit the flak belt before the target. We took a few hits, with the most telling being the loss of heat for T4 Templeton, in the waist. I had him move to the radio room and plug in there. Lt Hyde deserves some sort of formal recognition. In five missions he is averaging 50% on target, including two missions with 60%. Need to speak with the XO. Pulling off of the target is when we first directly faced enemy fighters. We faced seven, we downed two of them, and our escorts drove off three more. None of the enemy fighters caused any damage to Sunny. Which is just as well as we lost the guns in two stations to jams. At the Yugoslavian coast we faced four more enemy fighters, shooting down two, with our escorts driving off the other two. Submitted by, 2Lt Mylo Boyle, Pilot B-17G Sunny Side Up 80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF
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Post by kageyone on May 8, 2024 21:22:35 GMT -8
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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
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Post by Keltos on May 9, 2024 0:48:59 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-24J-1-CF-42-64086 – “Black Shadow”78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. M. Armstead Mission Date: 12 April 1944 Mission Number: 21 Mission of this bomber: 9 Formation: Middle Position: Middle Target: Wiener Neustadt, Austria Target Type: Aircraft Assembly Plant Bomb Run: On target - 50% CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | 1st Lt. Mitch Armstead | 9 | 0 | 0 | AM | RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt. John Webb
| 9 | 0 | 0 | AM
| RTD | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. John Griffis
| 9 | 0 | 0 | AM / PH
| RTD | 0 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Charles Rutherford | 9 | 0 | .33 | AM / PH
| RTD | 0 | Engineer | S/Sgt Colin Jones | 9 | 1 | 3 | AM
| RTD | 0 | Nose Gunner | Sgt Dennis Lindsay | 9 | 0 | 3.5 | AM
| RTD | 0 | Ball Gunner | Sgt Erik Sinnott
| 9 | 0 | 0 | AM
| RTD
| 1 | Port WG/Radio Op. | S/Sgt Lee Hanson
| 9 | 0 | 1 | AM
| RTD
| 0 | Starboard WG | Sgt Bruce Fluker
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | Sgt James Rivera
| 9 | 0 | 2.5 | AM
| RTD
| 0 |
Crew Chief: S/Sgt John Ziegler (Average Joe) - 9 missions
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Me-109 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Ju-88 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Claims:- S/Sgt Colin Jones: 1 Ju-88 claimed - full credit awarded - S/Sgt Colin Jones: 1 Me-109 claimed - no credit awarded Damage:
- Superficial x1: 2 - Nose turret inop: 20 Peckham Points: 22pts - overnight repairing and ordinary maintenance Casualties:--Awards:--AAR (flown with TFT)Giulia Airbase: First mission for the RWG Sgt Fluker just arrived from the US and assigned to our ship. Take off and assembly were ok. Nose turret failure during weapons check. Engineer S/Sgt Jones was unable to repair. Zone 2-7 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 8 Outbound: Attacked by 4 Me-109 and 2 Fw-190 in three waves: 3 Me-109 and 1 Fw-190 were driven off by 52nd FG guys. An Fw-190 attacked us from the front and we could not defend ourselves due to the failure of the Nose turret and the Top turret engaged in hitting and shooting down a Me-109 that was attacking us vertical dive, fortunately the Fw-190 shots did not hit and the fighter moved away heading towards other bombers. Zone 9 Outbound/Inbound (Target Zone): No GAF but heavy flak over the target. Lots of black clouds around us and a few jolts but fortunately we didn't suffer any damage and we were able to manage the preparation for the bombs drop without further problems. Light Flak while turning home route with some holes reported. The Jerrys ignored us. Zone 8 Inbound: We were attacked by a lone 12H Fw-190 which was intercepted by a P51. Then by two Ju-88s: the 1.30Low one was intercepted by the escort while the second at 3Lev was hit and destroyed by numerous shots. Zone 7-2 Inbound: Nothing to report. Giulia Airbase: Landed safely ------------------------------------------------- Mitch Armstead, 1st Lt, USAAF, Commanding Commanding B-24J: Black Shadow B-24J-1-CF-42-64086 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
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Post by limburger59 on May 9, 2024 9:47:27 GMT -8
B-17F WICKED WITCH Spare assigned to the 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Low Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 MISSION # 21 TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Frederick "Astaire" Rogers (8) AM Co-Pilot: 2LT Ian "Old Spice" Narragon (5) Navigator: Casey "Kick" Stand (5) Bombardier: 2LT Oscar "Wilde" Howe (5) Engineer/TT: S/SGT Emile “Plug” Putman (11) [5] AM / DFC ½x 109 destroyed Radio Op: S/SGT Christopher "Varnish" Varney (3) Ball Turret: SGT Paul Short (1) ½x 109 destroyed Right Waist: SGT Ivan "Ruskie" Malone (5) PH 1x 109 destroyed Left Waist: SGT Pasquale "Patsy" DiGenarro (2) Tail Gunner: SGT Morris Fields (3) [.83] 1x 110 destroyed
Bomb Run: On Target 30%
Casualties: None
B-17 Damage: Superficial x6 (6) Superficial Hits to Engines #1 & #4 (40) Structural N/E (10) PWG Oxygen out (10) Nav Equipment destroyed (10) S. Elevator out (10) S. Flap out (10) Radio destroyed (10) Rudder x1 (10) Interphone out (10) Starboard Wing Root (25)
Peckham Points: 151 – RTD 17 APR 44
Disposition: Lands safely
Attackers: 8 1x Ju88: 1 Damaged 6x Bf-109: 2 Destroyed, 1 Driven Off 1x Bf-110: 1 Destroyed Total Enemy Aircraft: Kills = 3 Confirmed, Probables = 0, Damaged = 1, Driven Off by Escort = 1
Award/Promotion Requests: Air Medal for 5 Completed Missions: 2LT Casey Stand, 2LT Oscar Howe, SGT Ivan Malone
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS-Beery):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
OUTBOUND: Nothing to report.
TARGET ZONE: Two waves of bandits tried to prevent us from the target, scattering damage throughout the bomber. In return, our gunners destroyed three of the six E/A. The worse damage we suffered was the loss of our Port Waist Gunner’s oxygen. He was moved to a spare outlet in the Radio Room after the bomb run.
Flak also tried to stop us, peppering our Starboard wing.
INBOUND: Attackers in Zone 8 were kept at a distance by the defensive gunnery of the 509th. In Zone 4 we faced two waves, including our first look at a Ju88. In spite of it being such a big target our gunners only did minor damage. The Kraut knocked out the interphone but that didn’t have the ramifications it would have had a few hours earlier.
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tomt1999
80 Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 142
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Post by tomt1999 on May 9, 2024 11:27:18 GMT -8
MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 MISSION # 21TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant Bombing Altitude: 23,000 feet 80th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON "LITTLE GREEN MEN II" CREW Thomas Marz 1LT Pilot Alfred Tucker 2LT Co-Pilot William Smith 2LT Bombardier Charles Smith 2LT Navigator James Hensley TSGT Engineer Walter Stroud SSGT Radio Op James Cantrell SGT Ball Gunner Fred Farnsworth SGT Port Waist David Jenkins SGT Starb Waist Bertram Gilliam SGT Tail Gunner BOMBING DNBPROMOTIONS AND AWARDS 5 Mission Air Medal for: Thomas Marz 1LT Pilot Alfred Tucker 2LT Co-Pilot William Smith 2LT Bombardier Charles Smith 2LT Navigator James Hensley TSGT Engineer Walter Stroud SSGT Radio Op Bertram Gilliam SGT Tail Gunner Order of the Purple Heart: 2LT William Smith SGT David Jenkins CLAIMS1x FW190 DESTROYED - Sgt Bert Gilliam CASUALTIESLight Wounds: 2LT William Smith, Nav - forearm cut - Returned to Duty SGT David Jenkins, Waist Gunner - thigh grazed - Returned to Duty DAMAGE119 Peckham Points - 2 days to repair Heat out Bbdr 10 Heat out Nav 10 Heat out Ball Turret 10 Heat out starboard waist 10 Bomb Controls inop 10 superficialx10 10 Port gun inop 10 waist gunner light wound 2 waist gunner parachute 10 bomb bay doors inop 10 bombardier light wound 2 1x fire extinguisher 25 ENEMY ACTYPE NUM D/O DAM DEST Bf109 3 1 1 1 FW190 2 1 0 0
AARWe saw only one enemy aircraft on the outbound leg and it was driven off over Yugoslavia. Just before we got to the target, all h*ll broke loose. Two 190s came through the escort screen and pumped six 20mm shells into us. Heat to the nose was knocked out and more importantly, the bomb controls were rendered inop. Ball turret heat also went out and the port waist gun was k/o'd also. The second 190 came at us in a vertical dive and plastered us plenty. The star- board gunner was lightly wounded when a 20mm shell ripped through his para- chute. At this point, the bomb bay was hit. We must've had someone up there looking out for us because the bombs did not detonate. The 190 came around twice and peppered the ship with shells, shooting up the rafts, a bunch of superficials, and lightly wounding the navigator. At this point, we couldn't drop our bombs, heat was out in multiple positions, a gun was inop and we had two wounded. I aborted the mission, turned us around and dropped to ten thousand feet. Sgt Charley Smith, the Navigator, although wounded, was able to guide us back to Giulia. We endured endless light flak over Yugo because of our altitude. No hits though. Just as we passed over the Adriatic coastline, two 109s came up behind us on our six. Tail gunner Sgt Gilliam splashed one and TSGT Hensley nicked the other from the top turret. Some hot shells ejected from the twin top turret guns started a small fire under the top turret. We didn't know until we smelled smoke in the cockpit. Hensly got a fire extinguisher and put it out with no problem. We landed safely, a bit shot up with two wounded. 1LT Thomas Marz
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Post by campsawyer on May 10, 2024 5:51:34 GMT -8
B-17F Double Bomb (B-17F-100BO 42-30333) Pilot: 1st Lt Paul Flores Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron Formation/Position: High / Mid Mission Date: 12 Apr 44 Mission Number: 28 Missions This Bomber: 21 Base: Wiener Neustadt, Austria Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Crew | Current Mission | Previous Claims | This Mission | Stress | Status | Pilot 1st Lt Paul Flores | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot 1st Lt Sanders | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Thompson | 19 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0 | RTD | Navigator 2nd Lt Cox | 19 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Engineer S/SGT King | 18 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 | RTD - ACE | Radioman T/Sgt Ramirez | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Ball Gunner Sgt Roberts | 21 | 3.3 | .3 | 0 | LW - RTD | PWG Sgt Beck | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | SWG Sgt Perry
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Tail Gunner S/Sgt Thomas | 20 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | RTD - ACE |
Bomb Run: On On Target: 90% B-17 Damage: Right Aileron, Top Turret Guns, Tail section O2, Pilot Compartment O2, O2 fire 3x extinguishers, 16xSuperfical hits Peckham Points: 148 points Repair Time: RTD - 3 days Crew Chief: SSGT Steve Taylor, dedicated Landing: Safe E/A | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted | FW-190 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ME-109 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ME-210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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Confirmed Claims: LT Thompson .3xME109, SGT Brown .3XME109 Casualties: SGT Brown - LW grazed thigh, RTD - 2 days Award/ Promotions Requests: PH SGT Brown After Action Report OutboundAfter the mission briefing we made our way to the plane. Two new waist gunners on this mission made the rest of the crew nervous, so I new I needed to get them into the routine as soon as possible. I reiterated the need to call out enemy fighters and to stay sharp to see them early. SGT Beck was a veteran of eight flights and knew he would be ok as I had heard good things about him. But he was now backed up by a rookie gunner from the States. SGT Brown was a little concerned as he needed to rely on new guys to get him out of the ball turret if there was issues. All felt a bit awkward until we go into the plane. SGT Taylor had patched up Double Bomb quite well after the raid on Ploesti. He told us to bring her back with less damage this mission. Take-off and form-up were uneventful and we headed out over the Adriatic. Even over Yugoslavia we were not bothered by German fighters and it wasn't until we reached the Austrian-Hungarian border that we had resistance by three FW190's. Our fighter friends were able to jump one of them and we took aim at the other two. One 190 came straight at us and LT Thompson and SGT King took him on but only did minor damage as well as the 190 missing us. The other approached from the tail, SGT Thomas was able to damage him, but he scored hits on us. He knocked out Thomas's O2 supply and jammed the top turret as well as adding some new holes to the fuselage. Both 190s broke off after the one pass. We descended out of formation to 10,000 feet to allow SGT Thomas to breathe without O2, but we were not vulnerable to more attacks as we continued to the target. We were able to line up for the bomb run but ran into heavy flak hitting the pilot compartment and waist, SGT Brown was hit in the thigh with a light would, but was able to continue at this post. Our bomb run was good and we were able to get 90% on target with the run. Good bombing by LT Thompson. Inbound
As we circled around for the trip home we were hit by more flak, but lighter this time and only had slight damage from it. But another round of fighters appeared and we had four ME109's coming at us over Austria. A couple of our P-51's came down to help us and drove off two fighters, but we still had two to deal with. One came straight down at us and SGT Ramirez was alone to take him on. His shots missed and the 109 scored hits. This time knocking out our pilot compartment O2 and starting a fire. SGT King jumped into action to put this out but it was a bit of work to put it all out before it spread. A second 109 came at us from 12 o'clock level and LT Thompson took him on. Both he and the 109 missed each other and SGT Thomas tried a passing shot but missed too. Both 109's setup for another run at us. One at 12 level a second time, but this time LT Thompson was able to get the first shot on target and the 109 drove with a tail of smoke. The second came in at 1030 low, both LT Cox and SGT Brown took aim but missed, the 109 was able to score damage to our right wing. He circled back around for another nose shot at us but missed and left. This was not the end of the German fighters, three FW190's and an ME109 appeared. Our fighters helped out again driving off one, but we had to face three of them. The ME109 approached at 12 low and SGT Brown took him on and knocked him out. The other FW190's attacked from 12 level and 3 level. Lt Thompson took on the 12 level but missed then SGT Thomas tried a passing shot damaging the 190. SGT Perry took on the other 190 in his first encounter. He missed but the 190 did too so at least he survived. A second pass by both had on a 9 level and 3 low again. This time SGT Perry had help from SGT Brown and damaged the 190, but did not knock him off from the attack. He scored more hits but they were all superficial, while the other fighter missed and headed home. That was the last of the German fighters encountered, but we had to endure flak attacks all the way through Yugoslavia. It was light and most missed but there were some more holes created in Double Bomb by the time we landed. Landing was good and all back. SGT Brown was taken to the hospital with his leg wound, but it was minor and he will return to duty after two days. Double Bomb will require 3 days to patch and repair before the next mission. Regards, 1st LT Paul Flores, Pilot, 80th BS, 509th BG, 15th AF
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Post by caodwolf on May 10, 2024 5:57:20 GMT -8
B-17G: Old Shep Pilot: 1Lt. B. Pease Assignment: 15th Air Force, 509th Bomber Group, 80th Squadron Mission Date: 12 April-1944 Mission No.: 21 Mission this Bomber: 8 Target for Today: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Facility Squadron Position: High Result: Off-Target: 5% All action was centered around the target area. Numerous German and Italian fighters were engaged: Three were shot down and a bunch driven off. Any damage we incurred was minor though both the Waist and Tail Guns jammed up.
Flak was heavy but caused no damage with a couple bursts to close for comfort. The bomb run was unsatisfactory as we missed the bombing point. Sgt. Shoemaker unjammed his Waist Gun just in time to fire a burst that finished off a FW-190. Cool stuff ! He'll share that kill with the Top Turret Gunner.
Return flight was uneventfully. Landed back at base.
That is all....
Position | Rank | Name | Missions Flown | Kills this Mission | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1Lt | B. Pease | 21 | --- | --- | AM, PH | OK | Co-Pilot | 2Lt | D. Diluzio | 7 | --- | --- | AM | OK | Bombardier | 2Lt | A. Tharpe | 7 | 1 | 1 | AM | OK | Navigator | 2Lt | S. Yezzi | 7 | --- | --- | AM | OK | Top Turret/Engineer | S/Sgt | G. Burdash | 20 | 1/2 | 6 | AM, ACE | OK | Radio Op | S/Sgt | K. Whitmore | 9 | --- | --- | AM | OK | Port Waist | Sgt | C. Shoemaker | 9 | 1/2 | 1/2 | AM,PH | OK | Stbd Waist | S/Sgt | M. Comerota | 11 | --- | --- | AM, PH | OK | Ball Turret | S/Sgt | M. Lesjack | 14 | 1 | 4 1/2 | AM | OK | Tail Turret | Sgt | K. Taylor | 8 | --- | 1 | AM | OK |
2lt J Pate: RTD: 15-April
Sgt M Comerota to S/Sgt
FTR | Spotted | Driven-Off | Damaged | Not-Damaged | Claimed - Credited | C-205 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 1 | FW-190 | 9 | 5 | 2 | --- | 2 2 | ME-110 | 3 | 3 | --- | --- | --- | ME-109 | 5 | 3 | 2 | --- | --- | JU-88 | 2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | TOTALS | 27 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 3 3 |
-Stbd Wing outboard fuel tank hit: self-sealed -Port Waist gun jam -Tail gun mount jam.
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Post by crushedhat on May 10, 2024 9:29:23 GMT -8
B24D: Laid Back Lady LLS LLS Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield Squadron: 78th (H) Bomb Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group MISSION DATE: 12 April 44 MISSION NBR. 21/This Bomber 18 TARGET: Wiener Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant SECONDARY TARGET: POSITION: Middle Squadron, Middle
Crew Position – Rank (Current Mission) [Previous Kills] Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield, (19) [0] LC Co-Pilot: 2LT Elliott Peterson, (19) [0] LC Bombardier: 2LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (19) [6 1/2] Navigator: Navigator: 2LT Bruce Ellison, (18) [4 1/6] Engineer: TSgt Michael Newton, (19) [29 2/3] LC Radio Operator: Sgt Daniel (Danny) Garson, (19) [0] Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston, (19) [13 1/3] LC * Port Waist Gunner: Sgt Peter Carson, (19) [5 1/3] Starboard Waist Gunner: Ralph Burgess (1) [0] Tail Gunner: Sgt Douglas (Doug), Richard, (19) [19 5/6] LC * * = 1 Kill This Mission # = Shared Kill This Mission
Fighters Encountered: Fw 190 4=1 KIA, 1 Damaged, 2 to P-51 (1 Ace) Me 109 8=1 KIA, 2 Damaged, 4 to P-51, 1 Undamaged (1 Ace, 2 green) 12
Claims: Only credited kills reported here Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston: ½ Me 109 Tail Gunner: Sgt Douglas (Doug), Richard: Fw 190
Bomb Run: On Target, 20%
B-24 Damage: Superficial x3 (6) Peckham Points: 6 Peckham Points, AC ready 13 Apr 44
Casualties: None
Landing: AC and crew safe at Giulia
Awards/Promotion Requests: None
Sitting Out: None
In Hospital: None
Completed 25 Missions: None
After Action Report: (Flown using TFT) 2LT Charels Martell reflexively ducks as the enemy fighter veers off from a certain collision at the last minute. He swears under his breath, at least he thinks he does. TSgt Michael Newton has a similar reaction as the enemy fight’s spinning propeller comes within inches of slicing through the plexiglass dome of his top turret. Both men find that they were not as silent as they though when Capt Paul Garfield’s voice comes over the intercom “Let’s keep the chatter professional.”
Takeoff and assembly were uneventful, as was the flight across the Adriatic. While we saw some enemy fighters over Yugoslavia (Zone 4), none bothered us.
Once into Hungary (Zone 8) we were challenged by a pair of Me 109, one Luftwaffe, one Hungarian. The P-51 chased off the Hungarian fighter and while we exchanged fire with the other bandit, neither side did much serious damage.
As we approached the target (Zone 9), 2LT Martell reported that the bomb bay doors wouldn’t open. With no EA bothering us, TSgt Newton went to see what he could do about the situation, getting the doors to function. While no bandits bothered us on target ingress, we did experience some nearby flak bursts that put a few holes in Lady, though nothing that would impact her performance. Sgt Blaston, in the ball turret, said it looked like about 20% of our bombs hit the target.
Target egress was even easier. The flak was wide of the mark and again no EA bothered us. It wasn’t the same for everybody, Orange’s Other Crate flying TEC, falling out of formation.
As we headed back over Hungary (Zone 8), Black Maria’s Daughter slipped into the tail position. We saw one wav e of EA forming up, but they didn’t harass us, though they managed to soak off the escorting Mustangs, leaving us to face three 109s from the second wave. WE flamed one and damaged another without taking any lumps ourselves.
Back at the coast (Zone 4), things really heated up, three waves attacking. First in was a pair of 109s, both falling to the boys of the 52nd. Next up were four Fw 190s. The Mustangs chased off two, with us blasting one out of the sky and sending another limping for home. This was followed by a lone 109 which ran afoul of the 52nd, along with bombs falling among the formation.
After that it was an uneventful flight across the Adriatic and back home to Giulia. Both planer and crew should be ready to fly again tomorrow.
Paul Garfield, Capt USAAF, commanding B24D Laid Back Lady 78th (H) Bomb Squadron
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Post by caodwolf on May 11, 2024 4:49:59 GMT -8
B-24J: DINA - MITEPilot: 1Lt. M Kucek Assignment: 15th Air Force, 509th Bomber Group, 78th Squadron Mission Date: 12-April-1944 Mission No.: 21 Mission this Bomber: 1 Target for Today: Wierner Neustadt, Austria - Aircraft Assembly Plant Squadron Position: Middle Result: On-Target: 26% This was just the mission a rookie crew needed to settle our nerves on our first bombing run. We joined the 78th who took heavy loses on the mission to Ploesti as a replacement three days ago. Our aircraft name of Dina-Mite is based on a Jack Benny radio show in which one of the characters would shout this out cranking up the fake audience laughs. The boys thought it was catchy so....there you go.
We spotted three enemy fighters who were all driven off by our Escorts. Flak was heavy but we sustained no damage. Bomb run was on-target.
Over the Asiatic Sea on the inbound the flap controls were lost.
Landed back at base without further incident.
Over and out....
Position | Rank | Name | Missions Flown | Kills this Mission | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1Lt | M, Kucek | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Co-Pilot | 2Lt | S. McDonald | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Bombardier | 2Lt | B. Burgess | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Navigator | 2Lt | S. Zell | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Top Turret/Engineer | S/Sgt | D. Baker | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Radio Op | Sgt | B. Peterson | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Chin Turret | S/Sgt | D. Prutzman | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Stbd Waist | Sgt | A. Weiss | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Ball Turret | Sgt | J. Lauer | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Tail Turret | S/Sgt | T. 'Pops' Croker | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK |
None
None
FTR | Spotted | Driven-Off | Damaged | Not-Damaged | Claimed - Credited | ME-109 | 2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | ME-110 | 1 | 1 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | TOTALS | 3 | 3 | --- | --- | --- |
-Instruments: Flap controls out
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Post by Grondeaux on May 11, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -8
B-24J Sorcerer’s Apprentice78th Bombardment Squadron Bomber Position: Middle squadron, middle Mission Date: 12 April 1944 Mission #: 21 Aircraft Mission #: 2 Target: Aircraft factory, Weiner, Neustadt, Austria Crew at Mission StartPosition | Rank | Name | Missions | Credits | Stress | Awards | Notes | Pilot | 1LT
| John Kane
| 1 |
| 0 |
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| Copilot | 2LT
| Ralph Emerson
| 1 |
| 1 |
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| Bombardier | 2LT | Jasper Johns | 1 |
| 0 |
| | Navigator | 2LT | Louis Clark
| 1 |
| 0 |
| | Nose Turret Gunner | SGT | John Kazenko | 1 |
| 0 |
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| Flight Engineer | TSGT | Colin Ferguson
| 1 | 1 | 0 |
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| Ball Turret Gunner | SGT | Guido Scarponi | 1 |
| 0 |
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| Left Waist Gunner | SGT | Milton Monck | 1 |
| 0 |
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| Right Waist Gunner | SSGT | Kevin McNamara
| 1 |
| 0 |
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| Tail Turret Gunner | SGT | Jerome Wright
| 0 |
| 0 |
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Crew Chief: SGT Gary Woods (32 skill points; roll every even-numbered zone) Bomb Run: On target, 20% Casualties: SSGT Kevin McNamara, torn rt. vastus (LW) Attackers: 20
| Spotted | Destroyed | Damaged | Driven off by Escort | ME-109 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | FW-190 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ME-110 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ME-410 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Claims: SGT John Kazenko, 1 x FW-190 SGT Guido Scarponi, 1 x FW-190 Credits: SGT John Kazenko, 1 x FW-190 Award/Promotion Requests: none In Hospital/Recovery: SSGT Kevin McNamara, RTD: 20 April. Aircraft Damage: 149 Peckham points (right wing root x 2, #3 engine out, radio operator oxygen, right waist gunner heat, right aileron (n/e), autopilot (n/e), 1 x light wound, 6 x superficial). Aircraft ready 15 May. AFTER ACTION REPORT – Using TFT (Variants used: TFT Axis Fighter Aircraft Add-on Module, Jasta 6’s Table 5-3 Placement Variant, Variant Tables for Take-Off and Mechanical Failure, Bruce Peckham’s German Fighter Pilots variant, Fuel Tank Fires, Seriously Wounded Bail Out, On the Subject of Bombs, my variation to Nolan Bryant’s Crew Chiefs, Combat Fatigue, Chris Riches’ Enhanced Fighter Attacks (Simple Version) ----------------------------------------------------- Routine take-off and squadron assembly. OutboundZones 2-3: Nothing to report. Zone 4: The Jerries show up, right on schedule; two FW-190s. One is chased away by one of the new 52nd FG Mustangs. The remaining one drops on us in a vertical dive and hits us on his way down. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice lurches twice with a pair of hits to the right wing root. Zone 5-7: Nothing to report. Zone 8: Wright calls in rockets coming in from our six. They miss. A pair of ME-110 Zerstroyers attack. A P-51 takes out one, the other takes damage from us and breaks off. Target Zone (9)Oddly enough, we make our bombing run unmolested by enemy fighters, and the flak is nowhere near us. We pull off our run and turn for home and again are left alone. InboundZone 8: Our respite ends as the air is swarming with enemy fighters. Two FWs and a ME-410 come after us. The 410 dives away, pursued by a Mustang. The Focke-Wulfs press their attack. Kazenko and Scarponi knock down one coming in from 12 o’clock low. The other misses, then flies off. Three more FWs, with one being taken on by our Little Friends. The remaining pair makes two passes and one of them gets walking hits on our fuselage. McNamara is hit, but not seriously. The radio room oxygen is out, as is McNamara’s suit heater. Zone 7: We head down to warmer air. Zone 6: We wander over a flak position, and they nail us. Our number three engine takes a hit, then runs away. We get it feathered, but I have a moment. Or two. Maybe three. Zone 5: Nothing to report. Zone 4: More Germans. We’re attacked by three waves of 190s and 190s. Our escorts chase several away, and the ones that do break through all miss us. Monck jams his weapon in his zeal to hit something. Zone 3: Nothing to report. Zone 2: Monck gets his weapon cleared. Landing: Routine touchdown, even on three engines. V/r, 1LT John Kane, First Pilot B-24J Sorcerer’s Apprentice 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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Post by ninthaquila on May 11, 2024 10:47:50 GMT -8
Pilot: 2LT Richard Archer Plane: B-17G-90BO-43-38476 Fortunate Sons Squadron, Group: 79th, 509th Low Squadron, Middle Primary Target: Ploesti, Marshalling Yard/Oil Storage Secondary Target: NONE Mission Date: 05 APR 1944 Mission Number: 20-4 Position | Rank/Name | Mission Number | Previous Kills | Mission Kills | Pilot | 2LT Richard Archer | 5 | 0 | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2LT Isaac Blackburn | 5 | 0 | 0 | Bombardier | 2LT Fred Fuller | 5 | 2, 8x 0.5 | 1 | Navigator | 2LT Lawrence Monroe | 5 | 1 | 0 | Engineer | T/SGT Alex Kozmenski | 5 | 1, 6x 0.5 | 1, 0.5 | Radio Operator | S/SGT Allen Kirby | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | Ball Gunner | SGT Samuel Carter | 5 | 5, 4x0.5 | 1 | Port Waist Gunner | SGT Ray McKenzie | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | Stb. Waist Gunner | SGT Charles Flanagan | 5 | 0 | 0 | Tail Gunner | SGT Matthew Wolf | 5 | 6, 6x 0.5 | 2 |
I do not count FCAs and tally FBOAs separately. Combined FD are shared between gunners that managed to get FBOAsBomb Run: On-Target, 30% B-17 Damage:Lightly damaged Bomb-Bay Doors Destroyed Port Cheek Gun Destroyed Engine #2 Detroyed Ailerons (Starboard) Minor amount of holes around airplane (7) Crew Casualties:
2LT Richard Archer - (LW) face wound, 2 day RTD Claims:2LT Fuller: 1 confirmed BF109 T/SGT Kozmenski: 1 Probable FW190, 1 confirmed FW190 SGT Carter: 1 Confirmed FW190, SGT Wolf: 1 confirmed FW190, 1 confirmed BF109 Peckham Points: 73, overnight repair Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Promotions/Awards:Purple Heart for 2LT Archer, for wounds sustained on 12 APR 1944 during a bombing mission to Wiener-Neustadt, Austria Air Medal for SGT Kozmenski, for destroying a total of 5 enemy planes Distinguished Flying Cross for SGT Wolf, for destroying a total of 10 enemy planes Air Medal for SGT Wolf, for destroying a second set of 5 enemy planes Air Medal for for the whole crew, for being credited with flying 5 combat missions Promotion to 1LT for 2LT Archer, for completing 5 missions in rank as Pilot After Action ReportAfter stopping at HQ and giving my reports, I made my way to the medical area, where I caught the last parts of the discussion my co-pilot was having with the flight surgeon. It seems his wounds were not that serious, and it had only looked serious since he's been bleeding like a stuck pig while in the air. The first aid had probably saved his life, and the blood transfusions he'd been given in Lesina had already gotten him up mostly to strength. A few more days of rest, and he'd probably be able to do light duties while sitting in the co-pilot seat. Afterwards, the crew chief was happy to see we were all still alive, but he was less than thrilled when he heard how I'd landed his beloved aircraft. After getting chewed out, I had to promise we'd not belly-land our next plane, and my crew would have to help out with any repairs for the next month. We spent the next few days celebrating easter, playing cards and trying to relax. As we flew out on the 11th, we were all a bit tense, with the flight to Ploesti still in the back of our mind. As we then had to turn back after flying for a while, we were all secretly relieved that we didn't have to continue, at least for today. On the way back, the Engineer joked we were lucky enough to not suffer any enemy fire today, and after some back and forth banter, we decided to christen our bird the "Fortunate Sons". The next day though, we were up in the air again. Our faces already looked a lot less anxious, and I felt a lot more... relaxed. Well, as relaxed as I could be while flying a B-17 into enemy territory. REPORT - CONFIDENTIAL
We took off at the appointed time, and quickly found formation, with the clear weather over base. Over the adriatic, we got a number of cloud banks, but visibility never got so bad we lost visual contact. A while into Yugoslavian territory, our Radio operator started to heave and throw up. We're not sure what the problem exactly was, and between him trying to empty his stomach at record speed, he didn't manage to produce anything understandable. Both waist gunners tried to clean up the puke as best they could, but the radio room still reeked when we landed. At least he soon felt a bit better, and sat down again. I told him to just sit tight and try to not strain himself out. The rest of the flight towards the target was mostly uneventful. Just before the target zone however, we were attacked by 2 flights. The first one consisting of 3 FW190s, where one was driven off and another sent tumbling down by the ball turret. The last one managed to destroy the port cheek gun and knock out Engine #2, but was afterwards quickly dealt with by the tail guns when he tried to line up for a second pass. The second flight was 3 FW190s again, and while our Engineer managed to get some good hits in on one of them, it wasn't enough to deter them from attacking. They managed to hit our starboard aileron, and sent shrapnel flying through the cockpit, some of which hit me in my face. A white-hot pain immediately erupted, and blood flowed over my eye, but after my copilot and engineer quickly wiped it away, it turned out I had gotten lucky, and the shrapnel had only hit the top of my cheekbone and my brow, missing my right eye by less than an inch. A second pass saw ineffective shooting from our side, where they managed to connect with some shots in our bomb bay. Luckily nothing critical seemed to be hit, and our radio operator confirmed there were only some holes in the bomb bay doors. After this, the fighters dove off, probably out of ammunition. To stay in formation, I temporarily had to boost the three remaining engines, but with only a few miles, they didn't even get a high enough temperature to potentially overheat. When we were over the dropzone itself, the bomb bays doors opened without any problems, and while flak managed to hit our starboard wing, our bombardier still managed to hit the target zone with about 30% of our bombs. With the lightened load, we lowered the power level on the engines again, and managed to stay in formation without any further problems. Return flak was inaccurate however, and we were left alone until we almost left Hungarian airspace. 4 BF109s attacked us. Again allied fighters helped us out and tangled with one, while our Bombardier and Tail gunner managed to shoot down 2 on the approach. The fourth one decided to cut his losses and dove down before it would suffer the same faith as his compatriots. Over Yugoslavia, another group tried to attack us, but friendlies were on it, and drove 2 of the 3 FW190s off before they could get close. A third one that managed to get through the screen was quickly despatched by our top guns, and thus we suffered no further damage. Landing was smooth, and after rolling to a stop, the crew quickly filed out, while I was hurriedly pushed into an ambulance. The Doc stitched and gave me some pills against the pain, and told me take it easy for a day or two, just to make sure there were no splinters that got in my eye. S/SGT Allen seems to have recovered now, one of the orderlies thinks he simply ate something bad. Coupled with the altitude, his stomach probably decided to throw everything overboard, to the annoyance of the rest of the crew, especially as they had to scrub it clean while the ground crew looked on. At least they put in the new engine (while muttering something about amateurs and highly delicate equipment), and with some other small fixes to be applied, she should be ready before the end of the evening. Crew chief wasn't happy with the stench in the plane, but he was at least relieved to see I didn't belly-land one again. When I joked about almost forgetting to extend the landing gear, his stare quickly shut me up. I don't think he really likes me much. Signed, 2Lt Richard Archer B-17G-90BO-43-38476 Fortunate Sons 509(H)BG/79SQ
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Post by kozzackkelt on May 11, 2024 13:26:02 GMT -8
B-17G: MISS KATAHDIN (B-17G-5048TT-44- 35112) Pilot: 2LT. Pierre DuMont Missions for this bomber: First Squadron: 80th Formation/Position: HIGH - Mission Date: 12 April 1944 Mission Number: 21 Target: Wiener Neustadt, Austria / Aircraft Assembly Plant
CREW (missions) {StressPts} E/A Wounds Pilot: 2LT. Pierre DuMont (1) {} POW Liberated May 1945 Co-Pilot: 2Lt. James McCoy (1) {} POW Liberated May 1945 Bombardier: 2Lt. Michael Ross (1) {1} [B%: O] POW Liberated May 1945 Navigator: 2Lt. Samuel Levinson (1) {} POW Liberated May 1945 Engineer: Sgt. Craddock O'Sullivan (1) POW Liberated May 1945 Radio Operator: Sgt. William Sanders (1) {} POW. LHiberated May 1945 Ball Turret: Sgt. John Crocker (1) {1} POW Liberated May 1945 PWG: Sgt. David Ingram (1) {} Died in Captivity SWG: Sgt. Benjamin Watson (1) {} POW Liberated May 1945 Tail Gunner: Sgt. Lawrence Haroldsen (1) {} POW Liberated May 1945
BOMB RUN: D. N. B.: 0%
MISS KATAHDIN was outbound when she was shot down by a Me109. Gunfire from the Me109 set the starboard outboard fuel tank ablaze. All of the crew were able to vacate MISS KATADIN prior to this bomber crashing and exploding in northwestern Hungary. Most of the crew survived their time in various German Stalag's.
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